Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God vows to protect Israel, perform miracles, destroy Babylon, and pardon Israel of its sins.
II. Photo
God promises to protect Israel: “When you walk through fire, You shall not be scorched; Through flame, It shall not burn you.” (v. 2b)
III. Important Verses
2: When you pass through water, I will be with you; Through streams, They shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, You shall not be scorched; Through flame, It shall not burn you.
5-8: Fear not, for I am with you: I will bring your folk from the East, Will gather you out of the West; will say to the North, “Give back!” And to the South, “Do not withhold! Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the end of the earth — All who are linked to My name, Whom I have created, Formed, and made for My glory — Setting free that people, Blind though it has eyes And deaf though it has ears.”
14: When you pass through water, I will be with you; Through streams, They shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, You shall not be scorched; Through flame, It shall not burn you.
16-21: Thus said the LORD, Who made a road through the sea And a path through mighty waters, Who destroyed chariots and horses, And all the mighty host — They lay down to rise no more, They were extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not recall what happened of old, Or ponder what happened of yore! I am about to do something new; Even now it shall come to pass, Suddenly you shall perceive it: I will make a road through the wilderness And rivers in the desert. The wild beasts shall honor Me, Jackals and ostriches, For I provide water in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people, The people I formed for Myself That they might declare my praise.
IV. Outline
1a. Introduction to the oracle
1b-3a. God will protect Israel
3b-4. Others will be exchanged for Israel
5-8. The exiles will be gathered
9-13. Witnesses are called to testify to God’s almightiness
14-15. God will destroy Babylon for Israel’s sake
16-17. God has performed miracles in the past
18-21. God will perform more miracles
21-24. Israel is guilty of sin
25. God pardons Israel
26-28. The reasons for Israel’s suffering
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Blenkinsopp, Joseph. “Isaiah 1-39” The Anchor Bible vol. 19 (New York: Doubleday, 2000).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Sweeney, Marvin A. “Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to Prophetic Literature” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 16 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 1996).
Photo taken from http://media.mlive.com/chronicle/news_impact/photo/ksm-mill-pond-trail-fire-1-54810cef2f9ca840_large.jpg
